R. R. Bolgar – författare

Since its first publication in 1954, The Classical Heritage has become established as a classic introduction to cultural and intellectual history from the Carolingian age to the end of the Renaissance.

This volume consists of original papers first read at Kings College, Cambridge, in 1969 at the International Conference on Classical Influences. The contributors are distinguished in a wide range of academic disciplines but all are concerned in one way or another with the spread and influence of classical, particularly Roman, civilisation through a number of European cultures from AD 500 to 1500. The book begins with the manuscript tradition - the contents, location and history of the literary remains that provide the basic evidence on which all research in this subject must to some extent rely. This leads naturally to a discussion of what classical texts were actually read and studied, when, where and by whom. The majority of contributors go on to examine the Roman tradition as a positive cultural on language, literature, philosophy and art. Classical civilisation is shown to be a live historical force whose survival consists rather in the creative responses and developments it has inspired than in the mere preservation of its physical relics.

These studies illustrate the different ways in which the Renaissance made use of its classical heritage, and how a variety of techniques were employed to transform the material that could be derived from the ancient classics so that it could serve the social and cultural purposes of Renaissance man. The scope of the volume covers discussions of catalogues and editions of humanist works; the humanist contribution to the art of discourse; humanism and religion; humanism and political thought; and finally the contribution of the humanists to the useful and fine arts. This volume consists of papers delivered at the second conference on Classical Influences held at King's College, Cambridge, in 1974. This book should be of interest to specialists in classical studies, Renaissance studies and the history of literature and ideas, and specialists in French, German and Italian studies. The last three articles will also interest art historians.